It's okay if you are struggling to admit it but don't be scared...when you get help, you realise you are worth something

LEROY URGES PEOPLE TO SPEAK UP WHEN THEY'RE FEELING DOWN THIS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK

- By JANE MCFARLANE

CONVERSATIONS around mental health have opened up in recent years, with celebrities including Dame Kelly Holmes, Fearne Cotton and Zayn Malik all speaking about their struggles.

But for some, the stigma remains, and Derby man Leroy Archer is using this Mental Health Awareness Week to speak out and try to persuade anyone who is struggling to seek help, which he says can be life changing.

Leroy, 58, is a well-known face around the city and is open about his battles with his mental health which stretch back nearly 40 years. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, he has been admitted to inpatient units with Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust many times during his life.

"You come in here feeling empty, your life is over, but you leave believing you can do anything," he said.

Following the death of his beloved mum when he was just 21 years old, Leroy says he had "a complete breakdown".